LSU tabs Miles as its new coach

College Roundup

BATON ROUGE, La. - Replacing Nick Saban won't be easy. Yet that's what's expected of Les Miles - right down to another national championship.

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Miles was introduced as LSU's football coach on Monday, succeeding Saban, who left the Tigers for the Miami Dolphins.

"Not just anybody can coach at LSU, in my opinion," Tigers athletic director Skip Bertman said. "At this level, because of the media glare, I think it's a fit that has to do with the right blend of leadership and characteristics to manage a program of this magnitude. I think Les Miles has those things."

Bertman believes Miles has the same characteristics that drew him to Saban five years ago - a winning college record in a BCS conference, consistency, running a clean program with a strong commitment to academics and NFL experience.

Miles agrees that he was ready for the job.

"Here, the grand scope of success that this place can have, the ability to recruit, compete for championships and national championships," Miles said. "My competitive spirit would not let me say no."

OSU back declares for NFL draft

MIAMI - Oklahoma State junior running back Vernand Morency says he's turning pro because his coach has departed for LSU.

Morency said he submitted papers Monday to the NFL making him eligible for the draft in April. The former Miami high school star disclosed his decision in his hometown shortly after Oklahoma State's Les Miles was introduced as the new coach at Louisiana State.

"I just feel like it's too big of an opportunity to pass up," Rodgers said Monday. "I'm looking forward to competing with the other quarterbacks for a chance to make an NFL team, and I'm fulfilling a childhood dream."

Under the tutelage of coach Jeff Tedford, Rodgers became a top pro prospect in just two years with the Golden Bears, whose season ended last week with a 45-31 loss to Texas Tech in the Holiday Bowl. Rodgers passed for 2,566 yards and 24 touchdowns this season, his first as Cal's full-time starter.

Smith has played last game at Utah

SALT LAKE CITY - Utah quarterback Alex Smith will announce today whether he's leaving a year early for the NFL draft.

Smith, a junior, was Utah's first Heisman Trophy finalist, and he has a 21-1 career record. He threw four touchdown passes to help lead the Utes past Pittsburgh in the Fiesta Bowl and complete a 12-0 season, the school's first perfect record since 1930. Utah is the first team from outside the six BCS conferences to force its way into a Bowl Championship Series game.

A news conference with Smith and coach Kyle Whittingham was scheduled for today. Smith and Whittingham did not immediately return repeated phone messages.

Cowboys promotes offensive coordinator

STILLWATER, Okla. - Oklahoma State promoted offensive coordinator Mike Gundy to head coach Monday, the same day his successor Les Miles was hired at LSU.

Gundy was the offensive coordinator under Miles for the past four seasons, helping the Cowboys average 31.5 points per game over his tenure.

The 37-year-old Gundy was Oklahoma State's quarterback from 1986-89. He holds school records for career total offense and most passing yards in a game with 429.